Baseball glove



April 12, 1938. R, D NKERT- 2,113,934

' BASEBALL GLOVE Filed Nov. 9'. 1957 ATTCRN EY Patented Apr. 12, 1938 PATENT oFricE BASEBALL GLOVE James It. Denkert, Johnstown, N. Y., assignorto M. Denkert & Company, Johnstown; N. Y.,

partnership composed of Mitchell Denkert; James lh'Denkert, and Henry Denkert Application November9,

2 Claims My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of my invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

My invention'is an improvedglove such as is used in playing the game of baseball and which is usually referred to as a fielders glove.

In the accompanying drawing, 7

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a glove embodying my invention. r

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the digital members of the glove taken on the line indicated at 2-2'in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The main body of the glove is formed in the usual manner, the palm portion not shown being lined and provided with suitable padding between palm and the lining indicated at l and the back being provided with the usual opening 2, below which are the meeting tabs 3, connected by a wrist strap formed conveniently in two pieces adapted to be adjustably connected by the buckle 5, or other connecting means.

The digital portions of the glove comprise the thumb 6, and the four fingers l, 8, 9, and Ill, each of which is provided with a lining, the linings being indicated at Bar, la, 8a, 90., and Illa, respectively, and suitable, padding is preferably provided between the front portion of each digital member and the lining as indicated at H in respect to each digital member.

I prefer to form each digital member of the glove with a plain front portion and a plain rear portion as shown, united 'at the lateral edges by welted seams,'so that there are no seams on the backs of the fingers which'are exposed to wear in contact with the ground in picking up a ball, and otherwise.

In order toprevent the spreading apart of the fingers in catching the ball, and at the same time to preserve the smoothness of the backs of the fingers and permit of relative lateral movement of the fingers, I provide a fiat connecting or reinforcing strap, indicated in the drawing which has its opposite ends stitched permanently into the seams of non-adjacent fingers, that is to say the first and third, and passes through a pair of separated slits in the back of the intervening finger, to wit, the second finger, the little finger being preferably left entirely free.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this permanent connecting and reinforcing strap, which is preferably formed in back of the glove.

1937, Serial No. 173,677

two parts for convenience of manufacture, comprises two portions, l2 and I3, each of which is preferably formed by folding a strip of the leather of which the glove is made, longitudinally upon itself and sewing the edges together by stitching as at M. This form of strap presents the finished side of the leather on both sides, which is very desirable as it is visible at both the front and One portion of the strap as I2, is firmly stitched into the seam at the side of the first finger l, remote from the thumb and a short distance back from the end of the finger. The other portion of the strap as I3, is similarly stitched into the seam at the side of the third finger 9, remote from the little finger Hi, and a short distance from the end of the finger 9. The back of the interveningfinger or second finger 8, is provided with a pair of parallel vertical slits l5, l5 at opposite sides of a longitudinal median line and a short distance back from the end of the finger 8. After the glove is completed and turned right side out, the ends of the strap portion are permanently united in any desired manner after.

one strap member has been passed through the slots l5, [5, of finger 8, the joining being so located that it will be entirely concealed by the central portion l6, of the back of finger 8, be-

tween the slits !5, l5. For example, one of the strap portions can be passed through both of the slits l5, l5, by temporarily displacing the second finger, overlapped upon the other strap portion and the overlapped portions united by stitching as indicated at H, in Figs. 1 and 2, after which the second finger 8, may be allowed to take its proper place between fingers 1 and 9, thus drawing the lapped and connected portions of the strap beneath the central portion I6, of the back of finger 8, and concealing the joining. This construction enables the permanent strap l2--|3 to hold the fingers 1, 8, and 9, against spreading beyond a limited degree, thus preventing injury to the player and enabling him to more surely catch the ball, while the construction is exceedingly strong and sightly, whether viewed from the front or the rear of the glove, and the strap being permanently united to the first and third fingers will last as long as the glove itself. It also dispenses with the use of laces, which are unsightly, and being adjustable, may become untied or unduly loosened, resulting in the dropping of the ball or injury to the fingers.

It will also be noted that the strap portions can move freely through the slits l5, I5. to permit the three connected fingers to change their relative positions with respect to each other with entire freedom. The strap members being fiat and folded as above described, will slide through the slits to the extent necessary without appreciable wear, and without rendering the joining visible.

I prefer, in connection with the permanent connecting and reinforcing strap, constructed and arranged as described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, to provide means for connecting the first finger to the thumb, so as to form therewith a sort of wall to prevent the accidental escape of a caught ball between the thumb and first finger. This I prefer to effect by forming a pair of holes (preferably protected by eyelets) in the first finger, as indicated at [8, 18 Figs. 1 and 2, adjacent to the tip of the first finger on the side toward the thumb, and a second pair of holes (or eyelets) I9, I9 adjacent to the base of the finger, similar pairs of holes (or eyelets) 20, 20 and 2!, 2|, being provided in corresponding portions of the thumb. The first finger and thumb are then connected by a pair of laces 22 and 23, one engaging the holes or eyelets I9 and 2|, so that parallel portions of each connect the first finger and thumb. Each of the laces is then enclosed in a flattened cover 24, formed. of the glove leather as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, each of which is formed by folding the edges of a piece of glove leather upon its central portion and stitching the edges thereto, leaving tubular portions on each side of the stitching through which the parallel portions of the lacings may be passed. The ends of the laces, which are preferably made of rawhide, may be tied or otherwise secured together so as to provide for adjustment. The covers 24, conceal the laces and protect them from wear. 7

I do not however limit myself to this construction for connecting the thumb and first finger, as it may be connected in other ways if desired for example, by stitching a permanent strap or straps into the side seams on the adjacent sides of the thumb and finger ifdesired.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Aball players glove provided with individual fingers and having a connecting and reinforcing strap formed in tWo sections, one end of each of which is permanently stitched into a side seam on one of two non-adjacent fingers a short distance back from the ends thereof, an intermediate finger'being provided with parallel longitudinal slits in the back on opposite sides of a median line longitudinally of said fingers, each of said strap sections being permanently united between said slits, whereby the joining between said strap sections is concealed.

2. A ball players glove provided with individual fingers and having a connecting and reinforcing strap formed of glove leather folded longitudinally upon itself with the finished face exposed onboth sides, the opposite ends of said strap being permanently stitched into seams of non-adjacent fingers a short distance back from the'ends thereof, an intermediate finger being provided with parallel longitudinal slits a short distance back from the end of the finger and the said strap having portions between its ends 

